Lotus

58k Mile Project: 1972 Lotus Europa Series 2

The Lotus Europa was a mid-engine GT car built by British automobile manufacturer Lotus Cars. The original Europa and its variants were produced between 1966 and 1975, with the Europa 2 materializing about mid-way. These were distinctive sports cars,… more»

Owned 30 Years: 1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam

Letting go of an old friend of the four-wheeled variety is never easy, but it’s always better to do it when said friend is still largely intact. This 1972 Lotos Europa is the desirable Twin Cam special variety, and… more»

Form Follows Function: 1974 Lotus Europa

Colin Chapman is someone you should be familiar with.  His singular focus on weight savings and efficiency set the stage for what Lotus automobiles would be and still is today.  However, that singular focus sometimes made him and the… more»

Rare Vintage Racer: 1957 Lotus Eleven S2 Le Mans

If you’re someone who is in the market for a Lotus Eleven, chances are you already know what makes this historic race car so great. The Eleven, in many ways, was considered Colin Chapman’s crowning achievement. And while he… more»

Mrs. Peel, We’re Needed! 1966 Lotus Elan S3

As a child of the early 1960s, I remember The Avengers well. The gorgeous (yes, my first crush) redhead Emma Peel, played so well by future Dame Diana Rigg, drove two Lotus Elans during her run on the series,… more»

Engine-Out Service Done: 1977 Lotus Esprit S1

The Lotus Esprit is the Europa all grown up. The car was conceived in 1971 when Giorgetto Giugiaro and Colin Chapman met to discuss two new projects – one to replace the Elan and one to replace the Europa…. more»

Two for One: 1991 Lotus Elan Package

Sometimes, it is difficult to resist the temptation to take a chance on a project that is a project for good reason. That’s certainly a possibility here with this package deal for a pair of Lotus Elans. The seller… more»

Not Running: 1972 Lotus Europa Series 2 Project

Deja vu all over again: here on craigslist is the ninth Lotus Europa we’ve seen at Barn Finds this year, making us the halfway house for adoptable Europas. This one is a 1972 Series 2 with an asking price… more»

Two-Owner 1973 Lotus Europa Twin-Cam Special

If you need a Lotus Europa, you have some choices to make. Do you want an early car, a really early car, or a twin cam car? Those are the basic categories of Europa. If you settle on a… more»

Right-Hand Drive 1967 Lotus Elan S3 SE Coupe

Lotus cars are coming out of the woodwork these days, as Barn Finds has featured several lately. These British sports cars were mostly fiberglass with mostly useful engines producing almost enough power. From the early Elite to the later… more»

Excellent, Except….. 1970 Lotus Europa Series 2

Sometimes it’s the car that’s captivating, sometimes it’s the ad, and sometimes it’s both. The one is both. Here on Facebook Marketplace is a 1970 Lotus Europa Series 2 with stated low miles and receipts showing extensively rebuilt components,… more»

Batch of Brits: Three Lotus Elites

As if one Lotus was not trouble enough, here’s a guy with three of the most under-doggy 1970s Lotus cars ever created. On craigslist are this set of Elites – two 1974s and one 1976. The package deal is… more»

Low Miles, Very Original: 1977 Lotus Esprit S1

When I was a kid, my dream car was a Lotus Esprit. The “wedge” shape was propagating all over the place, design-wise. Triumph’s TR7, the Countach, the Lancia Stratos, any number of Maseratis, the Pantera…. The wedge was “it”…. more»

Diamond in the Rough: 1970 Lotus Elan +2 Project

The two-seat Lotus Elan – conceived by Colin Chapman – was a thrilling car when it was introduced in 1962. A lightweight fiberglass body with a twin cam engine developed by Harry Mundy (of Facel fame), the Elan could… more»

Untouched Find: 1970 Lotus Elan Plus 2

In the era of increased safety, large EVs, and complex hybrid cars, there was a time when lightness was key for several manufacturers. Especially for those in the UK and Europe where ‘specials’ were built in the simplest way,… more»

Chasing the Magic: 1969 Lotus Elan

When Colin Chapman designed and built the Lotus Elan it was doubtful that he understood just how legendary these cars would become.  While not especially fast in a straight line, the handling was described as otherworldly.  While many people… more»

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